Aircon leak

Thanks @RAB - silly me, thought fuel / exhaust / cooling just referred to the powertrain!

OK word back from the garage:

"Hi David, looked at the A2 -it's the condenser that's leaking out of a crack in the ali housing. Could get the part and replace it for you on Tuesday, will drop the car back in the meanwhile today so you've got it for the weekend then collect again on Monday evening".

Speaking with him, we agreed that as the car is apart it makes sense to replace the dryer at the same time so then all major components in the engine bay within the AC circuit are then in first class condition. It's going to be a big bill but then I can forget about it for a few years (hopefully!).

So after hijacking it, I'll now hand this thread back to the OP!!
 
What is the difference between a condenser and a dryer? I see the cheapest dryer on ebay is a Hella, part number 8FC351038551. The cheapest "evaporator" / condenser on eBay is a Nissens, part number 92234

HERE is the 7zap page on the AC system - Part 20 is the condenser - but I don't see a dryer? I am confused!

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I used partsinmotion a couple of weeks ago and got new condenser for 70 something, made by nfg? NRG? Not sure how the quality compares to nissens though.. cheers
 
I used partsinmotion a couple of weeks ago and got new condenser for 70 something, made by nfg? NRG? Not sure how the quality compares to nissens though.. cheers
Thanks Nod - just called them and am ordering the same! They are local / based in Exeter.

Did it appear to be good quality when it arrived?
 
Yep I've ordered that directly on their website with a 5% discount code, so 75 quid delivered.

I'll have to get the garage to order the drier mind as I can't find one that does fast delivery.
 
Take care with the dryer. I just replaced mine and found the NRF, Nissens and Behr/Mahle to be having a wrong connector for the hose to the compressor. The geometry sightly differs and the thread is M6 instead of M8 on the original one. So after lots of research with my local parts dealer there seem to be just two different dryers on the market which are labeled for all major part brands. The one which is labeled NRF, Nissens and Behr/Mahle is the one which does not fit. My dealer ordered them all to compare because he could not believed it since they are all listed for the same Audi part number. The ones that are fitting are for example Denso, Delphi and Waeco. There are many more brands but the ones I mentioned were the ones we ordered to make sure. You can distinguish the two by the weld for the bracket on top of the cartridge. The right ones are welded in between the two arms of the bracket and the wrong ones are welded on the outside.

Correction: The non-fitting dryers are welded in between the two arms of the bracket and the proper dryers are welded on the outside. See two posts below.

I don't know if that is just a temporary issue of a faulty batch or a general issue but my parts dealer said he never experienced something like that before.
Hope it helps.
 
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Sorry I have to correct after looking over my pictures of the problem. The weld outside is the right one and the one on the inside is wrong. As you can see on the picture I took. A not fitting Mahle/Behr on the right (welds inside and M6) and a proper Waeco on the left (welds outside and M8).

Regarding the NRF we had in the shop it was 100% the same as the Mahle/Behr, including the packaging. Just the sticker was different. But in the ebay link from you the picture shows the proper type of dryer. So if you get exactly that dryer it will fit.
 

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Fast becoming a brilliant source of air con remedy info this. I've just rushed to garage to check mine, it's apparently the right one. DENSO. Ignore my paprika nails, eeeughh
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Sorry I have to correct after looking over my pictures of the problem. The weld outside is the right one and the one on the inside is wrong. As you can see on the picture I took. A not fitting Mahle/Behr on the right (welds inside and M6) and a proper Waeco on the left (welds outside and M8).

Regarding the NRF we had in the shop it was 100% the same as the Mahle/Behr, including the packaging. Just the sticker was different. But in the ebay link from you the picture shows the proper type of dryer. So if you get exactly that dryer it will fit.
Excellent information this but might be a good idea to edit your earlier post with the correct information too for clarity and to avoid any potential confusion for anyone 👍
 
Maybe you find this thread interesting:
 
Crikey, been a month since I first lost my aircon gas!

@RAB i know you said it will almost certainly be the condenser. I didn't want to spend £100 on fixing the AC with a new condenser.

But i looked at the aircon system properly yesterday. Thankfully the condenser is fine, can't see anything leaking or damaged. I found an aircon pipe that was covered in oil, so took it off and replaced the seal on it. I think it may have had the wrong seal on it because it came off without any resistance; I put a slightly tighter seal back on.

Now got nice cool aircon for the next two days' heat. :cool:

Not gonna jinx it by saying it's fixed, as there may be a different issue. Lets see if the AC can last longer than a week this time!
 
Hi,

I'm confused.
Is M6 is correct or M8 is correct?
If it is M8, can we just drill and tap to M8?

Is there anything else which are different like bore sizes which fits into "in" side and below the thread(M6/M8) hole diameter?

As I have all the tap I need and correct drill to carry out modifications, if you can help me.... very much appreciated.
I bought one while back and return to seller is no longer available.
 
Any seal that contacts the refrigerant MUST be specifically for car a/c and not a standard black o ring.
 
Hi,

I'm confused.
Is M6 is correct or M8 is correct?
If it is M8, can we just drill and tap to M8?

Is there anything else which are different like bore sizes which fits into "in" side and below the thread(M6/M8) hole diameter?

As I have all the tap I need and correct drill to carry out modifications, if you can help me.... very much appreciated.
I bought one while back and return to seller is no longer available.
M8 is correct. But it is not just the thread. The geometry of the port is different too and will not fit.
 
Crikey, been a month since I first lost my aircon gas!

@RAB i know you said it will almost certainly be the condenser. I didn't want to spend £100 on fixing the AC with a new condenser.

But i looked at the aircon system properly yesterday. Thankfully the condenser is fine, can't see anything leaking or damaged. I found an aircon pipe that was covered in oil, so took it off and replaced the seal on it. I think it may have had the wrong seal on it because it came off without any resistance; I put a slightly tighter seal back on.

Now got nice cool aircon for the next two days' heat. :cool:

Not gonna jinx it by saying it's fixed, as there may be a different issue. Lets see if the AC can last longer than a week this time!
Well, it did not last a week. Only lasted a day before it had gone again! I have now leak tested and the leak is coming from that seal location. I did not know what seal I needed so I just put one on that seemed to fit. I now ordered the correct seal from TPS so I'll fit it at the weekend...

If anyone's interested, this is the seal that's leaking. Seal part number is 8EO260749B

ac seal.png
 
AC gas has up to 3000 times more effect on ozone than co2 its self when comparing same amounts of the gases, so please please don't just let it leak, get a professional to suck the gas out and contain it. 25% of damage will soon come from leaking air con, leading to hotter world and therefore more aircon. Use it reasonably it's a assive privilege. Dumping your 4 litres of oil in the ditch would have less effect than needlessly letting the AC leak out.
 
AC gas has up to 3000 times more effect on ozone than co2 its self when comparing same amounts of the gases, so please please don't just let it leak, get a professional to suck the gas out and contain it. 25% of damage will soon come from leaking air con, leading to hotter world and therefore more aircon. Use it reasonably it's a assive privilege. Dumping your 4 litres of oil in the ditch would have less effect than needlessly letting the AC leak out.
Oh no think of the whales :p !!

If it makes you feel any better, when I regassed it last week to find the leak, I drained it all back into the machine once I found the leak :)
 
Well. I've replaced the seal and it's still leaking. The yellow circle is where I can see it pissing out of.

I did indeed have the wrong seal on. The top seal is the one off the car, the bottom one is the new one. But doesn't matter.

I guess either the pipe or the condenser needs replacing. Even though there is no visible corrosion or damage.


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